Tracking- Jonathan

I think that tracking should be eliminated from schools, because I think that tracking either involves the use of pre-assumptions or makes no room for improvement. I think that students need mobility between classes because sometimes by not doing well in one class, the student is automatically left in the lower track. By being able to make one's own schedules or move between classes one is able to excel in the subjects they are good at, and try harder in the classes they are not as good at. Even more, tracking is usually decided by an individual's performance during a test, however if one is not a good test taker they are automatically put in a lower track, because of their actions during a 45 minute assessment. Later those 45 minutes would decide how colleges look at them, and by seeing that they are in a lower track of classes, they risk the chance of not going to a good college. I also think that in lower tracks, people risk not being given the attention they need, and sadly teachers think lower of them compared to those who are in the advanced set of classes. Hence, I think schools should eliminate tracking because once put in a lower track from one class, students are usually stuck in that track for all their classes. Thus, students should be given mobility, because although they might not do as well in one class, they might strive in another. So tracking should be eliminated, in exchange for a a schedule which incorporates the strengths and weaknesses of a student, so they may strive and be challenged in the according subjects. Lastly, mobility is the most important aspect so students can express their intelligence without being judged harshly or incorrectly, by race or any other stereotype, but rather by their intelligence and performance in that class.

On Microagressions

The weight of microaggressions is tremendous– but there isn't much that we can do about it. It is the unique background of everyone that creates microagressions, their biases, their skin color, their culture, their class. There is no way to erase these unique traits, thus there is no way to get rid of microagressions. Although this may be true, showing compassion towards other people can prevent microagressions from becoming a big problem. We can do this by catching ourselves as we notice that we are making insensitive comments and assumptions about other people. For this to happen we need to educate each other on different cultures and rid their minds of stereotypes; there is no way to know that we are doing something wrong if we don’t know what the right thing is supposed to be. I feel that this is the only way to cushion the blow that microaggressions make on people.

Microagressions continue to thrive because of the media. The media promotes stereotypes in TV shows and a white-dominant society by portraying whites as upper class citizens while other people as inferior to them. Stereotypes in the media assign roles to certain ethnicities, latching on to people’s minds, influencing them subtlety in their actions. 

Is the weight of micro-aggressions real or perceived?

Up until a few weeks ago, I had no idea what the word micro-aggressions meant. I was aware of what it was but, I didn't know it was such a pressing issue. Learning about micro-aggressions has made the controversial topic much more serious for me. I believe that the weight of micro-aggressions is definitely real. Even if a few people are being effected by them, then that makes it real. It's easy to say that someone is being hypersensitive, but there are some things that just should be handled with care or left unsaid. For example, saying that someone isn't the best at math because they're asian is an assumption that people shouldn't make. Then there is the case of asking someone about their cultural background. Sometimes it may be seen as offensive when someone asks "where are you really from" even if they have good intentions. In the end, the weight of micro-aggressions is real and should be handled with care

Micro aggression- Jonathan

I think Micro-aggression's perpetuate stereotypes, however because they are done unintentionally one cannot completely judge another for the assumptions. Micro-aggression's are  manifestations of customs from the past, and I think that these automatic assumptions are just ideologies from the past which are kept alive as parents share their customs with their children. Hence, I think that as a society we should focus on how to revolutionize the way children think, starting at a young age through their education in both, what they are taught, as well as who they are surrounded by. If a student learns about some race or some religion, yet is never exposed to it, they will continue to assume to fill in the space of what they don't know. I think another really important idea is to "push the envelope" on what is taught to kids, because of the fear in interfering with religion/ race as well as family customs. Nonetheless, we can't just avoid these topics because if we do, students will have to fill in the blanks spaces with what they hear at home as well as what they see on the media, which also perpetuate further micro-aggression's. Thus, as a school I think it's their job to expose children to the "real world" and teach how to appropriately respond as well as think when they a person who is different. Another important step, which might seem counter intuitive, is for the teenage generation now, to recognize our micro-aggression's and comprehend their faults. As people we need to know our errors and build from them, not ignore hem and do nothing to change. To improve this conflict each person has to recognize their false assumptions and move on from them. We need to expose ourselves to a diverse community and understand the different lifestyles of each one of us.

Matthew Boddewyn - Affirmative Action

Affirmative action in schools is a tactic that has potential to level the playing field between races immensely, but real world application can become a form of reverse racism. Accepting students based on their race to fill a quota is unacceptable as that makes less space for students who are more academically proficient. If the decision to accept two students of equal academic standing comes up and one is of a minority race and the school must fill a race quota I feel it is more acceptable to lean towards accepting the minority. The root issue is that schools system in general should not be racist towards minorities which would mean that there would not be a need for affirmative action. Affirmative action should not take president of academic standing for the reason that if it did it would become reverse racism. Another deeper issue that goes with affirmative action is the fact that minority students are not being given the same education as other students which means they are not getting equal opportunity. If minority students were given the same academic opportunities from an early age it would mean they would not need affirmative action because they would be able to have very good grades and have the same chance as other students to get into good collages.

Matthew Boddewyn - Microagressions

The weight of racially charged microagressions is very real. People have come accustomed to use these hurtful and offensive phrases without realizing their impact. Racial microagressions and purposeful racial insults are really very similar in how they impact people as both have similar connotations although one is intentional while the other is not. Saying a racial comment in a joking way can really hurt someone if they do not feel that it is a joke. Microagressions are rarely meant to hurt anyone but the fact is they can still hit a sensative nerve in someone that crosses the line between a joke and a hurtful comment. No one really ever means to be racist when they say a racist comment as a joke but because current society has been so exposed to social media like Vine and Facebook, making fun of someone's race has been common and to some extent 'O.K.'. The line between hypersensativity and a real offense has become somewhat grey because of this as some will find a joke funny while other will find the comment rude. To take out all racial comments would be to take one small, yet crucial, step towards ending racism. The fact that some might find a comment offensive means that no one should use that comment so that those who are hurt by it never have to experience it. People have come to be so 'loose' with the comments they make with one group of friends who is not offended by them, that they will make them with people who are affected by it and because it is not meant to be offensive, they will not realize that it is hurtful. Raising awareness is the easiest step to stop people from making bad jokes that can really hurt and realizing that racially charged microagressions carry a very real weight.

Microagressions

I think that the weight of microagressions is definitely real. When somebody uses a microagression, even if their intentions are good, it can still offend somebody, especially because microagressions come deep rooted racism in our society. Of course, there are instances in which people are being hypersensitive, and may be offended by a truly harmless comment, but even these occurrences are a result of all the microagressions that are constantly being used. Not everybody realizes that they're using a microagression or being insensitive, especially because nobody really comments on what the other person is saying. While some people think that the solution to eliminating microagressions is to rid society of its racism, I feel like this has been attempted and might not work for a long time. Instead, when somebody uses a microagression, we should gently let them know that their comments are offensive and untrue.

Microagression

I have found microagressions to be a really interesting and a rather deep conversation. When I was first learning about microaggression I had absolutely no idea what it was. But after I learned that microagression are small comments that people say to one another, usually without the intention of actually trying to be offensive or hurtful, but those small comments hurt and usually happen to be offensive. The question at hand right now is whether or not microagression are real or perceived, I believe that the effect microagressions have on people is real and is not perceived. I believe this because if the a very small comment can actually affect someone drastically then the microagression must be real. Some may argue that it is because of the way someone perceives the microagression, it is not real. I remember explaining what a microagression was to some of the parents in our high school in order to raise awareness of them and one parent said "Now thinking back I remember going out with my co-workers to eat sushi. I ordered something that I really love eating and one of my coworkers said 'ew thats so nasty' and ever since I have never eaten that in front of my coworkers. But up until taking about these microagressions now I never even realized that I no longer ate that in front of them." This example in my opinion displays how greatly one small comment that was most likely not meant to be harmful can affect someone so greatly without them even noticing the change in themselves. I feel like the best possible way to address microagressions is within the teenage community because that is the age of transition and the time period in ones life where they can make or break a habit.  

Tracking and Discipline

I do not believe that tracking should be eliminated. I do not think so because in hindsight the idea of tracking is to pull aside the students who are not doing so well in school and provide them with the resources that they need in order to succeed. However I do understand the situation in many schools with tracking is that rather than looking at a students credentials, report cards, test scores, etc, the school's administration looks rather at the students color to decided whether or not they will be on on track for most of their school life at a very young age. Tracking has become something that is now a racial issue rather than something that was supposed to assists students that were falling behind. So I believe that rather than eliminating tracking we should focus more on schools addressing this racial problem. Not to mention that the Go Project is also something like tracking because we pull students aside from their school and work with them. So this is why I believe that tracking should not be eliminated, since it is not the tracking itself that is the issue in my eyes, rather the issues that arise due to another aspect of the child.

Critical Conversation: Diversity and Privilege

Sorry about the lateness of this post. I was absent for the Friday on which the critical conversation occurred and I forgot to post on the blog.
I am really split on this topic. I believe that affirmative action limits our potential as a collective but on the other hand, it levels the playing field for those who may not have been granted the same opportunities as others. The United States is a country that firmly believes in the ideals of democracy, which is a system that rewards those who demonstrate their skill through merit rather than those with financial needs or any other factor. Although I believe that it is the nation's duty to aid those who are less fortunate and are unable to provide for themselves, I feel that affirmative action does not fall under this category. As I said, I do not believe in rugged individualism but giving someone an advantage because of his or her race over someone who performs just as well or even better seems unfair to me. In order to utilize the maximum potential of our students and workers and maintain our status as one of the greatest nations, selections for positions should be based on merit rather than on race.
However, many of those who benefit from affirmative action prove that they are deserving by thriving in better environments that they would not have been exposed to without the assistance of affirmative action. Their applications may not have been as strong as a white male with a perfect score but there is more to a person than just a grade. Experience, personality, race, and gender are just a few other qualifiers and due to a scarcity of successful peers of the same race, minorities are often given a leg up to compete with those who have been able to live unhindered by family issues, debt, and many other problems. But then, this raises the question is diversity necessary for success? I am still torn between both sides and I wish I had been able to take part in this critical conversation

Weight of Micro-aggressions

I believe that the weight of micro-aggressions are real. Before the internship I was unaware what micro-aggressions were. I knew there were many stereo-types thrown out there, but I grouped micro-aggressions with all stereo-types and racism. The name gives off the impression that the comment a person may make is small, but still aggressive. At a young age children are aware of the sayings around them and they won't realize what's being said around them isn't true. They will grow up thinking that "oh african americans are good at basketball because they're tall", or "everyone who's asian always get good grades without trying." We as teenagers have to be careful of what we say and how we say certain things because you never know who's listening and who will take a comment offensively; especially around the kids who we work with. When we are put in a classroom with young children, whether we know it or not, they look up to us. It is our responsibility to watch what we say because we are the role models in the class. Since the comments we may say are "micro", the kids may tell others kids what we say and talk about, "Mei-An mentioned ectectect, so it must be true!" We must be encouraging the students to not judge anybody based of their appearance, and not encourage stereo-types, no matter how small the comment. 

Micro Aggressions by Aaron Zephir

I think that micro aggressions are only important situationally; that is to say, the context of the micro   aggression plays a role into whether or not it is a significant problem that needs to be dealt with. Things like clutching purses and crossing streets are rather insignificant. Neither of those actions, or things of the sort, do any harm to the target of said micro aggression and does not directly further injustices against the target. However, one situation in which micro Aggressions absolutely must be done away with are those that occur in the educational system. There is no reason or excuse that a students race or skin color should affect the quality of education he or she receives in the classroom. On that track, one situation that I feel micro Aggressions would be significant is to the youths. Children are not as strong minded and still easily influenced, especially by the media. In my own classroom, I've seen students perform micro Aggressions such as bowing to Asian staff members or referring to themselves as "Watermelonquisha." Something must be done to limit the view of micro Aggressions for children. However, after a certain age, these things are really not much more than jokes and should not be looked upon any differently than other kinds of insults or jokes. You just have to deal with them, the same way a fat person has to deal with fat jokes or or a short person has to deal with short jokes. With the exception of environmental micro Aggressions, many of these micro aggression are not aggressive; and at the end of the day, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

The weights of microagressions are real. We make them everyday without noticing it and some truly hurt people. It can lead to people making in unconscious decisions to change the way they are to blend in with all the rest. For example some people might get contacts, try to lose weight, change their hair all because they feel bad about how they don't fit in with what is considered the norm.  Microagressions are started by stereotypes and continued by bias. People don't have to make generalizations but we do because it is what we were taught. There is the argument of hypersensitivity. Some people take things to offensive that weren't meant to be offensive. That is where one makes their line of what is a joke and what was malice. There is also my double standard theory. Like if two people share something in common and decide to joke about it is funny but when someone who doesn’t share that similarity and pokes fun of it then it becomes offensive. The two people who share that similarity know what it is like while the other doesn’t thus, the microaggression is perceived differently. Some microagressions may seem funny and they negatively affect different people. I believe it all relies on the person whether the weight of them affects it.

Microaggressions

Personally, I believe that the weight of microaggressions is both perceived and real. For each person, each microaggression is different. Some may take offense while others may just find it as hilarious. In this way the microaggressions used are perceived by the person. They themselves determine whether it is offensive or not. An example used during professional development was a situation where a college group was having a bake sale and a black man passed by, they offered many different treats and drinks but he mainly focused on the kool-aid. He felt offended and believed they only offered him the drink because he was black. This man most likely has been hurt by microaggressions before and because of that he perceived this simple bake sale as a microaggression even though it was evidently not. This is why I believe microaggressions are both percieved and real. I believe a solution would be to keep the lighthearted manner that some microaggressions are dealt with, for example South Park, but whats important is the attitude and mindset that is associated with microaggressions. Everyone should be aware that these stereotypes and concepts of a group of people do not always apply to each person and that we should respect our differences. With this mindset I believe that we can still find humor in the use of microaggressions while also respecting each other.  

Microaggressions

Microaggressions are as real as you and me. Although they may be unintentional, their impact is impossible to ignore. This is true especially in the case of children who are susceptible to many things during this critical period of their lives. A slip of the tongue or a slight change in wording could change a harmless question or statement into one that causes another person to feel belittled and inferior. If these words or actions can affect a person so greatly and possibly be detrimental to their mental abilities and emotional growth, that is reason enough to look into the matter and attempt to stop it as early as possible.
It is apparent that microaggressions can have a significant impact on people and it is imperative to stop them to the best of our ability because they are fairly simple to prevent. All it takes is to educate people, especially at young ages, about being careful with their words and learning to accept others for who they are. Although it may conflict with the views expressed at home, it is definitely better than sitting back and doing nothing. If "small" issues such as microaggressions could be solved, we could slowly work our way up and begin to tackle larger problems such as racism.

Microagressions

Microagressions affect everyone regardless of race, gender, sexuality, etc. They are the result of oppressive views that  remain potent due to the ever lingering racism that exists within our society.  The weight of microagressions is real and is not something that should go unspoken. Racism is real  and not okay, so why should making an offensive verbal or nonverbal statement be okay?  While some instances of microagressions  are unintentional., it is important to continually bring awareness to the reality of this situation and educate people on how microagressionss affect everyone in every aspect of life.

Critical Conversation: Micro Aggressions

I believe micro aggressions are a very important to be aware of but sometimes I believe they are weighted too much. Also, depending on who you are talking to, using a micro aggression against someone may come off as a joke or on the other hand, they may make someone sound ignorant or rude. An instance where micro aggressions are weighted lightely is when someone is joking with their friends; In this scenario, I believe that nothing said should be taken to offense if everyone is in a playful mood. However, if someone is making this assumption about you and it is completely wrong, someone may take that to offense and be very upset. Now, if the micro aggression (assumption) comes off as racist, sexist, or bias etc, then someone has the right to be offended and this is an instance in which the micro aggression should be a concern. Micro aggressions should definitely not be used against a person you don't know because it comes off as rude when your making a assumption about this person you know nothing about. Everyone should be aware of micro aggressions but should limit the use of them. Additionally, one thing I have noticed is that people are less offended when the micro aggression is coming from someone with the same gender/race. This is a minor problem because as soon as the tables are turned and another race uses a micro aggression against another, it is automatically offensive. Overall, some micro aggressions are taken too seriously but people should definitely be aware of them so that they don't use them in the wrong setting or with the wrong people. 

Microagressions

Though microagressions may seem like minor issues in a much, much bigger picture, I think it's important to remember that the little aspects are what contribute to the overall problem.  The overall problem is broad and large, which is why it is difficult to find a solution to.  However, addressing the microagressions are the first steps to solving the broader issues, such as racism.  Microagressions are based off of stereotypes and these stereotypes are the foundation of racism.  Though not all microagressions are based off of a negative intent, it is important to open people's eyes to the fact that they are stereotyping.  I agree that it's extremely difficult to change people's mindsets, but if microagressions are addressed from a young age, a person can grow up with more awareness of the things they're saying and doing.  While their mindsets may not be permanently altered right away, then at least they'll be able to acknowledge the idea that their actions may be inappropriate and they'll be more likely to consider whether what they're about to do/say could come across as a microagression.  I feel like it's much easier to tackle the individual microagressions that show up in life, which will in turn slowly help change people's mindsets and eventually, the broader issue may be solved.

Is the Weight of Microaggressions Real or Perceived?

In my opinion, microaggressions are very real and have tangible and legitimate consequences. One way we know that their weight is real is when Olivia asked us all to write down one microaggression that we have encountered in our lives on an index card, and there was not one person in the room who did not have something to share. The problem is that microaggressions are so deeply engrained in the media, and even in most school curriculums, that they become ubiquitous and their weight may seem lighter, or it may seem like it's okay to turn them into jokes. While sometimes, as we discussed, people commit verbal or nonverbal microaggressions without intending to harm or offend, I find it difficult to believe that people who commit microaggressions are always unaware of their actions. For example, I found an article about a student at Fordham who interviewed her peers about microaggressions they've encountered, and people have said some blatantly offensive things, like "'You're really pretty...for a dark skin girl.'" (http://www.buzzfeed.com/hnigatu/racial-microagressions-you-hear-on-a-daily-basis). These people who were interviewed clearly had some things said to them that stayed with them and were offensive. The unfortunate thing about microaggressions is that they are founded upon stereotypes, and committing a microaggression is acting upon a stereotype that may be somewhat rooted in truth, but of course is not the whole truth and does not represent all people within a certain group. Especially since non-white races tend to be misrepresented, people will commit microaggressions because they believe that all people of one race have to be the same. Indicating this to one individual in a microaggression can be horribly offensive, and cause psychological ramifications, even if that was not the initial intent.

Microaggression

  I do believe the weight of microaggressions is real and something that needs to be taken very seriously. I have seen so many people my age, older and younger who have been seriously affected by micro aggressions. I have had a lot of time this week to reflect on my own experience as well as that of my fellow interns. I think the conversation we had during our last PD session was such a necessary one. The more we acknowledge that micro aggressions do exist the more confident we can be when it comes to monitoring our own behavior and thoughts and those around us. 

         It is very upsetting that people make such quick judgments about others because of their race, class, gender etc. I do agree with what a lot of other interns have been saying, that society has wired us in such a way that often encourages microagressions. I see microagressions often in my GO classroom, but I feel like they have started to decrease. The more you point them out to the students and have discussions on why those judgments have no real basis, the more they start to understand. Microagressions are sadly a part of everyday life but the more we acknowledge them the more we can prevent them from happening.

Microaggression

Microaggression is an important issue. It highlights the lack of understanding between two sides; more often than not, it is unintentional. And this unintentional behavior sometimes leads to lower self-esteem. For example, using an example we talked about in PD, a Black male always seeing other women clutch their bags when they are near him may lead him to think very lowly of himself. Things like this could lead to a person being ashamed of his or her own race. But some might argue that you can just create a culture of taking microaggressions lightly and not be offended by any of it or so that the majority of people are not offended. There are several reasons why this would not be good. For one, that would just ignore the people that are offended by these microaggressions; does that mean those people do not matter? Secondly, that just embraces that ignorance rather than trying to understand it. Accepting microaggression is kind of like accepting slavery; it just has a psychological toll rather than a physical. Sure, solving this issue might realistically be impossible, but that does not mean that it cannot be lessened. After all, every one person that becomes more aware of microaggression is one less person actively taking part in it.

Is the Weight of Micro-Aggressions Real or Perceived?

     Micro-aggressions have macro effects. Whether their manifestations are unintentional or deliberate, micro-aggressions insinuate hurtful, shallow, and often erroneous generalizations about race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc... The prevalence of micro-aggressions in both the public and private sphere is extremely destructive. Micro-aggressions are often subtle actions and comments that suggest sweeping racist, classist, and sexist sentiments; they have the power to completely shatter one's identity.  The weight of is real. As many GO Getters proclaimed, "It's impossible not to read too much into micro-aggressions." They are everywhere, and they have palpable consequences.
     In the spring of this year I read a story called "Maggie A Girl of the Streets" by Stephen Crane. Crane is a naturalist–he writes about humans as the products of an omnipotent society. Naturalist writers propound that human thought and behavior is influenced solely by the mores of society. While this 19th century artistic and literary phenomenon is no longer accepted, some of its facets reign true. Unfortunately, we exist in a society where micro-aggressions and micro-invalidations are part of daily discourse. Whether or not we intend to commit them, we often do.
     When we perpetrate micro-aggressions, we must own it. When we witness micro-aggressions, we must aim to rectify the situation. Awareness is key. The weight of micro-aggressions grows more real as we grow more aware of the frequency and implications of these infractions. This awareness is two-fold: we must be conscious of even the most subtle micro-aggressions as we see them occur in our daily lives, and we must be mindful of our role in mitigating their harsh effects.
     Micro-aggressions, even in their rawest and mildest form, are emotionally damaging. A micro-aggression reveals negative sentiment toward a component of one's identity.  The wannabe-psychologist in me can only assume that the use of daft actions and comments to tamper with one's identity warrants sensitivity and anguish in the victim. Micro-aggressions attack identity. The weight of these injurious transgressions is most definitely real.

Micro-aggressive

           Micro-aggressions can cause harm and perpetuate stereotypes. Although someone may not be offended by something another person might be. It is important to be aware of common micro-aggressions because they are often subconscious. There are larger issues in the world, such as systematic oppression, but racially motivated micro-aggressions can change the way people perceive certain races. I might believe that I am asking a benign question but without knowing it I might be insulting someone or making a generalization about his or her race.  In general I think it is very important for people to be aware of their biases. If you are unaware or believe you are prejudice free I suggest taking one of the tests found here: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/selectatest.html. Once you are aware of your biases and common micro-aggressions it might be easier to stop yourself from saying micro-aggressions.  For those who are affected by micro-aggressions it can take an intense psychological toll. According to an article by the APA (American Psychological Association), Micro-aggressions can make people feel like “they don't belong, that they are abnormal or that they are untrustworthy”[1] Another problem that micro-aggressions can cause is people feeling the “pressure to represent their group in a positive way. One woman said she was constantly vigilant about her work performance because she was worried that any slipups would negatively affect every black person who came after her.”[2]  This is a common worry and fear. There a variety of people in every race and to believe that every person from one race is the same is ludicrous.

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[1] Tori Angelis, "Unmasking 'racial Micro Aggressions'" Http://www.apa.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Aug. 2014.

[2] IBID

Microaggressions - Gracie Gibbons

      I believe that the weight of microaggressions is very real.  Although one could argue that one could perceive a microaggression when it is not meant to be one, the insecurities of someone that made he or she perceive the statement come from past microaggressions.  Therefore, microaggressions cause extreme insecurities in people, from the color of their skin to how they dress and everything in between.  In our society today, microaggressions are seen as little, comical statements “poking fun” at a race, gender, etc.  However, how can we celebrate our differences while being unified if we are constantly ridiculing the differences of others?  Many microaggressions are unintentional, which is exactly the problem.  No one is ever reprimanded or “called out” for making a microaggression that hurts another’s feelings because it’s such a social norm that no one wants to speak up.  No one wants to be “that person” who ruins the fun.  However, how can racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. ever cease if these little “jokes” and statements are constantly made supporting these injustices?  Microaggressions are everyday acts of racism, sexism, etc., which add very prominent weight to these injustices by supporting them in every way.

Response: Is the weight of microaggressions real or perceived?

I believe that the weight of microaggressions is real. Everyone has been guilty of microaggressions one time or another. Whether you are fully aware or not, the weight of microaggressions is in fact real. While making comments such as “where are you really from” or “are you good at math because you’re Asian?” may come off as a joke because it is so commonly said, the weight of it is real because it is considered something “normal” to say. Although it may seem funny, many people would feel insulted. For example in prep class, a guy sitting down next to another Asian guy, moves away because he “smells like rice”. It may seem like a funny joke to others, however, the victim may feel hurt or even ashamed of their culture. Rice is part of the main diet in many cultures and being commented on that can cause an “ouch moment”. In our debate, the question of “is microaggressions considered okay when it’s to someone of the same race as you” was brought up. I think that where people believe that it’s okay just proves how real microaggressions are. Yet if someone else of a different background than you were to say the same comment, many people would be offended.

Microaggression - Finley

Microaggressions, by definition, are "small acts of non-physical aggression" against those who are of different races, cultures, genders and sexual orientations. For years micro-aggressions have been perceived as just that, micro. Microaggressions were considered small, insignificant and not intentionally malicious things that pass from person to person in most peoples opinions leaving no mark. For me, personally, I find this thought process surrounding microaggression to be completely unacceptable for we see the scars of microaggressions all around us. We live in a society where intelligence has been linked to our skin color, where some sexual orientations have been turned into insults, where jokes about girls being nothing more than sex objects have become common place and this is why I refuse to believe that these words leave no marks. Micro-aggressions surround us from the moment we are born until the day we die and, although I believe that it is impossible to completely eradicate micro aggression, I believe that the first major step is to be aware of yourself and to question what you are thinking. Certain views about the world and the people within it, whether right or wrong, have been handed to us by our guardians, our friends, our communities etc. and it is important to look at these views critically rather than blindly following them. Why did you hold your bag a little tighter when you walked by a black man on the street? Why did you assume that girl was a "slut"? I believe that the only way to change the prevalence of micro-aggression in our society is to actively be checking oneself as well as those around you. The most difficult problem about micro-aggression is the fact that it is often not meant to be harmful but it has simply been said out of sheer ignorance. Spreading awareness about the issue is the only way to change the culture of micro-aggression in our society and I believe it is important for us as GO Getters to hold both ourselves and each other accountable for the things we say.

Microaggressions - Trust

The topic of microaggressions was a very interesting one to debate, as it is extremely subjective in nature and based almost completely on one's own perception.  I think that the nature of microagressions is something that is very hard to change, because they are not intentional, they are byproducts of different systems of oppression manifesting themselves in how we behave day to day. I think that in order to stop microaggressions from being a part of our lives and the lives of those around us, we have to be able to identify when someone does something that could be considered a microaggression. I think that was one of the valuable things that was said during the debate, because how can we as a community combat something that we are not aware of? The next thing that needs to be done is addressing the underlying causes of these actions, and trying to do something to resolve it. The issue is that this is a very slow process that can only be performed on those who are willing, it is not something that we can sweep across the nation to fix microaggressions everywhere. The people who are changing their ways to prevent these kinds of actions are doing so out of their own free will, and the scale on which this un-brainwashing would need to take place in order to have a change tomorrow would be inconceivable. This is why we have to make change day by day, starting in our own homes and communities. If everyone is responsible for their own actions and tries their best to help those around them, then that's the best thing that we can do in this fight against microagressions.